Gas producer



R.` DAAE GAS PRODUCER July 14, 1942.

Filed Jan. 27, 1939 3 sheets-sheet 2 111.11LMLI HIGH L11. H44

. INVENTOR Rezhadlaae R. DAAE f GAS PRODUCER Filed Jan. 27, '1939 July`14, 1942.

I l. o 72 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Reinhardt 17am? Sm, MVM

July 14,` '1942. R. DAAE GAS PRODUCER Filed Jafn. 27, 1939 3sheets-sheet 3 121 lNvEN-roR Re/zlnhardflaa'e Patented July 14, 1942UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,289,347 GAs PRODUCER Reinhardt Daae,Youngstown, Ohio Application January 27, 1939, Serial No. 253,081

2 Claims.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of my gas producer;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the grate of my producer partially brokenaway to show a part of the grate in section.;

Figure 3 is a section along the lines III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical section of the coal feeding opening in the coverof the producer;

Figure 5 is a section along the lines V-V of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a partial plan view on an enlarged scale of the cover of myproducer;

Figure 'l is a section along the lines VII-VII of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an end viewof the poker reversing mechanism shown in Figures6, 7 and 8; and

Figures 9 and. 10 are plan views of levers utilized in the pokerreversing mechanism illustrated in -Figures 6,` '7 and 8.

As shown in Figure 1, my gas producer comprises a producer body l'Isupported by standards l2 having a gas port I la and containing the fuelbed I3. The lower portion of the producer body II is surrounded by awater jacket I4 having a cold Water inlet pipe I5 and a steam outletpipe I6. The steam outlet pipe I6 leads to a three-way valve 'Il bywhich steam maybe di.- rected to an air pipe I8 through the pipe I9 ormay be utilized for some other purpose by passing through the pipe 2U.The air pipe I8 extends beneath the fuel bed I3 and supplies airnecessary for combustion through a grate designated generally by thereference number 2I as will be hereinafter described. The producer bodyII is closed at the ktop by .a rotating cover 22 which rotates on and issupported by wheels 23 which revolve about horizontal axles 24 securedto the producer body. Wheels 23a, revolving about vertical aXles engagethe periphery of the cover and keep it centered over the producer bodyII. `The top of the producer body II supports Aa trough 25 which with aflange 23 extending downwardly from the cover 22 forms a water sealbetween the producer body and the rotating cover. The outer edge of thetrough 25 carries a beveled ring gear 2l which is used to drive variousparts of Vmy producer as will be hereinafter described.

The cover 22 is rotated by any suitable source of power having a drivingconnection with a pinion v28. The pinion 28 meshes with a spur 'gear 29which rotates about a horizontal axis and turns a worm 30 mounted on thesame shaft. The worm 30 rotates a wormr wheel '3| mounted on a shortvertical shaft 32. A spur gear 33 keyed to the shaft 32 meshes witharing gear 34 which is fastened to the periphery of the cover 22.

The bottom of my gas producer likewise rotates relatively to theproducer body. As shown in Figure l, the bottom of the producercomprises an annular trough 35 which forms an ash receptacle and also incooperation with a flange 3'8 extending downwardly from the producerbody a Water, seal for making the bottom of the producer air-tight. Toenable the trough 35 to rotate, brackets 3l extend downwardly from thebottom of the trough 35 and support beveled wheels 38 which run on atrack 39. A Water seal around the air pipe IIB is provided by an annulartrough 40 and a ilange 4I extending downwardly from an extension 42 ofthe inner edge of the trough 35. I

Rotation of the trough 35 is obtained by eccentrically pivoting a pitman 43 on the spur "gear 29. Rotation of thegear 29 causes the pitman43 to rise and fall which in turn raises and lowers a lever 44 to whichthe pitman is connected at its lower end. When the lever 44 rises, apawl 45 pivoted on the jlever 44 engages a ratchet wheel 45 keyed on ahorizontal shaft 4l and rotates the ratchet wheel. A worm 48 is alsoLkeyed to the shaft 41 and upon rotation turns `a. worm wheel 49 mountedon a short vertical shaft 50. A spur gear 5I integral with the wormWheel 49 meshes with a ring gear 5Ia secured to the bottom of the trough35 and thus drives the trough.

Ashes are removed from the fuel bed I3 by rotation of the grate 2| whichas shown in Figure 1 of the drawings is supported by a carrier 52 whichrests on the extension 42 of the inner edge of the trough 35. As shownin Figures 2 and 3, the grate comprises a plurality of truncated sectors53 which are bolted to each other along their radial edges to thecarrier .52 and to anelliptically shaped top section 54. `The radialedges of each sector have Vertical faces 55 and 56, the face 55 of eachsector being substantially higher than the face 56. Each sector has asloping top surface 51 which joins the top portions of the two verticalfaces 55 and 55.

The sectors 53 are bolted to each other by means of lugs 58 so that thehigher vertical face 55 of one sector is neXt to the lower vertical face56 of the adjacent sector. Thus, the top surfaces 51 form with thevertical edges 55 a series of radially extending troughs down whichashes may slide itno the annular trough 35. As shown in Figure 1 theends of the sectors adjacent to the top section 56 are higher than theends of the sectors supported by the carrier 52 so that the grate hasthe appearance of a cone with a plurality of radially extending ribs.

The sectors 53 are chambered so that air from the air pipe I8 may beblown through them into the fuel bed I3. The air is directed into thefuel bed by Ythe sectors 53 through air passages 59 positioned in thetop of the vertical faces 55. By placing the air passages 59 near thetop of the vertical faces 55 ashes sliding down the troughs formed bythe top surfaces 51 and vertical faces 55 will .not clog the airpassages. I havefound it preferable to .so rotate the complete gratethat air is blown out over the top surfaces 51 in a direction oppositethe direction of rotation of the grate.

To assist in the breaking up and removal of ashes from the fuel bed thetop section 55 has an elliptically shaped bottom portion E! so that thebottom edge of thegrate 2l is elliptically shaped although the sectorsfor convenience in manufacture may all be made ofthe same length. Sincethe lower edge of the grate is elliptically shaped the distance betweena point on the lower edge of the grate and a fixed point on the producerbody II will vary upon rotation of thel grate. This change in the spacedown which the ashes fall to the trough 354 assists in the removal ofthe ashes by breaking up any clinkers which may be formed. The topsection 54 has `a cylindrically shaped middle portion .6I Vand aconically shaped top portion .62. A scoop 63 is fastened to thecylindrical portion 6I of the top section and extends out overtheVellipticallyshaped bottom portion 68. This scoop 63 .furtherassistsinthe breaking up and removal of ashes from the fuel bed I3. The centersection 54 ischam bered to permit passage of air therethrough to thefuel bed.

The ashes are removed from theA trough by a plow 65 which may be raisedand lowered by turning a rod which is geared to a short threaded rod 65which extends down theV center of the plow 55 and ycooperates. with athreaded nut 61 whereby rotation of the rod V66 raises and lowers thenut 61 and consequently the plow 64.

As shown in Figure 1 coal or other fuel which is to. be burned in theproducer body lII is kept in a hopper 68 mounted above the producer sothat fuel may be fed into the producer body by gravity. The rate atwhich fuel is vfed to the producer is controlled by a fuel feedingmember 69 of the frictional type such as is shown for example in myPatent No. 1,D31,695,'granted August 6, 1912. The member 69 forms amovable bottom for the hopper and controls the amount -of fuel fed intothe producer by reciprocating back and forth across the bottom of thehopper. Thus when the memberV 69 is moved totheright,

edge while upon movement in the opposite direction it forms a supportfor the descending body of fuel which builds up thereon as determined bythe size of the opening 16 and the angle of repose of the material.

A reciprocating motion is imparted to the member 69 by a link 1Ipivotally connected to a bell crank lever 12. The other arm of the bellcrank 12 is connected to a pitman 13 which in turn is connected to oneend of a lever 14. The lever 14 is secured to a horizontal shaft 15which carries a second lever 16. A pitman 11 eccentrically pivoted on agear 18 imparts a reciprocating motion to the lever 16 and to the member69 because of the linkage above described between the link 1I, the bellcrank lever 12, the pitman 13 and the lever 14. The driving pinion 28meshes with a gear 19 which in turn meshes with the gear 18.

The fuel passes from the hopper 68 down a chute 8D to a rotary feedingand sealing means SI. The construction and operation of the rotaryfeeding and sealing means 8l and of the Scrapers 82 and 83 which aremounted on weighted levers 84 and 85 and which are designed to preventdamage to the feeding and sealing means in case large lumps of coal orforeign material are delivered to the pockets 85 of the rotary feedingand sealing means 8| are described in my Patent No. 1,819,836 grantedAugust 18, 1931, and form no part of the present invention.

The rotary feeding and sealing means 3| is not perfectly gas-tight.Occasionally, therefore, combustible gas generated in the producer bodyII will escape through the sealing means and go up t-he chute 89 whereit may ignite. I locate the hopper 68 above the chute 80 so that thereis an opening to the left of the bottom of the hopper, viewing Figure 1,which will by-pass the open name to the atmosphere and prevent ignitionof the fuel in the hopper 53. However, the hopper should be so locatedthat the member 69 does not extend at the end of its movement to theright beyond the edge of the chute 8i) so that coal dust falling off theright-hand edge of the member 69 will fall down the chute.

The fuel is discharged from the pockets 66 into a fuel feeding opening81 in the cover 22 of the producer. Upon leaving the pockets 86 the fuelfalls on chutes 88 which are pivotally mounted in and extend across thefuel feeding opening. Figures 4 and 5 show the construction of thechutes 88. The chutes have flanges 89 which pivot about bolts 99extending through the sides of the fuel feeding opening 81. Additionalbolts 9| extend through the other'sides of the fuel feeding opening andthe lower ends of the chutes 88 and hold the chutes in position. Byturning nuts 92 on the Vbolts SI the slope of the chutes may be adjustedas desired for proper distribution of the fuel onto the fuel bed I3. Asis shown in Figure 5 the chutes 93 do not extend completely across thefuel feeding opening 81 but leave a space betweenthem through which fuelmay fall from the fuel feeding and sealing means 8| directly onto thefuel bed I3.

To stir the fuel bed and to distribute it evenly through the producerbody II, I provide a hollow poker 93 which extends down through thecover 22 and which is connected to a water tank 94 supported by the'sides of the chute 86. The poker is held in proper position by acylindrical holder 95 which rotates in a circular flange 96 seated` onthe cover 22. `I provide for'rotation of the poker 93 so that allportions of the fuel bed may be reached thus insuring better stirringand distribution of the-fuel in the fuel bed I3. The drive for rotatingthe poker consists in a bevel gear 91 (Figure 6) which extends through ahole in the cover 22 and meshes with the ring gear 21 secured to theouter edge of the trough 25. Rotation ofthe cover 22, therefore, causesrotation of the gear 01. The gear S1 is keyed to a shaft 08 mounted inbearings 99 on the cover 22. Rotation of the shaft 98 drives twooppositely rotating gear trains |00. The end gears of the gear trains|00 rotate freely on a shaft |0| and are made integral withsquare-toothed gears |02 which likewise run freely on the shaft |0I. Adouble-faced gear |03 with teeth out to mesh with the gears |02 issplined to the shaft |0| so that by sliding the gear |03 into mesh withfirst one and then the other of the two gears |02, the direction ofrotation of the shaft |0| may be changed. The mechanism for shifting thegear |03 will be hereinafter described. The shaft |0| carries a worm |04which meshes with a toothed sector |05 secured to the periphery of theholder 05. The shaft 98 also drives a gear train |06 which drives therotary feeding and sealing means 8| as described in my Patent No.1,819,836, granted August 18, 1931.

Figures 6, '1, 8, 9 and 10 show the mechanism for shifting the gear |03.about a vertical shaft |08 and having two arms |09 and ||0 is used toshift the gear |03 in and out of mesh with the gears |02. The verticalshaft |08 is mounted in a base which is secured to the top of the cover22. The arm |09 of the lever |01 is forked and the prongs of the forkare slotted to grip small studs ||2 which extend from a ring around thegear |03. A second lever ||3 having two arms ||4 and ||5 is mounted onand rotates about the shaft |08 above the lever |01. The arm 4 of thelever ||3 is forked to provide two horizontally spaced prongs ||0 andcarries a U-shaped member ||1 having flanges ||3 which extend downbeyond each side of the arm ||0 of the lever |01. The flanges H0 carryadjusting screws ||9 by which movement of the lever |01 by movement ofthe lever ||3 can be adjusted. A vertically extending lever |20 ispivoted about a horizontal shaft |2| mounted in the base The lower endof the lever |20 is shaped in the form of a spade with the upper portionof the spade cut out. The arm ||0 of the lever |01 extends through thecut-out portion of the spade. The upper end of the lever |20 carries aweight |22 which may be set in various positions along the lever |20 bymeans of the set screw |23.

The operation of the reversing mechanism is as follows. The poker holder05 has two vertically extending pegs |24 near its periphery. Uponrotation of the poker the pegs 24 strike the arm ||5 of the lever ||3and cause the lever to rotate about the vertical shaft |08. When thelever I3 rotates about the shaft |08 one of the adjusting screws I9strikes the arm 0 of the lever |01 and causes the lever |01 to rotate.The arm |09 of the lever |01 will thus move the gear |03 partially outof mesh with one or the other of the gears |02. Upon further movement ofthe lever I3 one of the prongs ||6 of the lever ||3 strikes the lever|20. Continued movement of A lever |01 pivoted the lever 3 will causethe lever |20 to move past a vertical position and thus the weight |22will overbalance. Under the action of gravity the overbalanced weightwill move in a vertical arc until one edge of the spade-shaped end ofthe lever |20 strikes the arm ||0 of the lever |01. The momentum of thefalling weight is transmitted to the arm |00 of the lever |01 and snapsthe gear |03 completely out of mesh with one and into mesh with theother of the gears |02. The direction of rotation of the carrier 95 willthus be changed and the poker will revolve in this direction until thelever 5 is struck by another one of the pegs |24 in which case thelevers |01 and ||3 will be moved in an opposite direction and the weight|22 will be swung to the opposite end of its arc of movement and thegear |03 will again be shifted from one to the other of the gears |02.

Because of the improvements above described, the coal is automaticallyfed in the right quantities to the combustion chamber and is evenlydistributed therein. The revolving grate effectively removes the coalashes and prevents them from clogging the air passages by which airnecessary for combustion is supplied to the chamber. Reversing mechanismwhich controls the gears which drive the poker insures positive changeof direction of rotation of the poker which in turn insures a thoroughstirring and even distribution of the fuel throughout the fuel bed. Byreason of these improvements my gas producer will operate automaticallyat a high rate of efciency and for long periods of time.

While I have shown certain present preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be distinctly understood that they may be otherwiseembodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a gas producer, a rotary grate of generally conical shapecomprising a plurality of sectors having vertical faces along theirradial edges, one vertical face being substantially higher than theother, a top surface sloping from one vertical edge to the other, airoutlets adjacent the top of the higher vertical face of each sector, thesectors being joined together along their radial edges so that the highvertical face of one sector is adjacent the low vertical face of thenext sector thereby forming a passage down which ashes may pass forremoval from the producer, the difference in height between the verticalfaces being such that during operation of the producer the ashes maymove down the passages below the air outlets.

2. In a gas producer, a rotary grate of general conical shape having aplurality of radially eX- tending ribs, each of said ribs having asubstantially vertical face and a sloping face extending from a pointadjacent the top of the'vertical face of the rib to a point adjacent thebottom of the vertical face of the succeeding rib, and a plurality ofair passages positioned adjacent the top of the vertical face, therebyforming a series of troughs down which ashes may slide beneath the airpassages for removal from the producer.

REINHARDT DAAE.

